Operation Corrupcion enjoys success: Anonymous makes a statement as Mexico goes to the polls.
Anonymous Iberoamerica is taking credit for numerous attacks on government websites in Mexico. Anonymous attacks managed to disrupt Sunday elections, as well as deface the prominent New Alliance Party’s website.
The New Alliance Party is the party of President Felipe Calderon’s sister Luisa Maria Calderon who was seeking the office of Governor in the western state of Michoacan. Calderon lost Sunday’s election.
At this time, it is unclear as to the effect Anonymous has had on the outcome of Sunday’s election, but it is only fair to assume the well planned attack and anti-corruption message did not help Calderon’s election efforts.
After being hacked on Sunday, the New Alliance Party's website displayed a video of a person wearing a Guy Fawkes mask urging Mexicans to hack into official websites and email accounts to look for evidence of corruption and make it public.
The attacks were timed to coincide with the Michoacan state elections on Sunday. Anonymous Iberoamerica also hacked the Michoacan Electoral Institute's website, taking the website down for hours.
Sunday’s attacks are part of a larger Anonymous operation: Operation Corrupcion (#OpCorrupcion). The following is an excerpt from a statement outlining a mission statement for Operation Corrupcion:
Government of the Federal Republic of the United Mexican States,We are aware of the plight of a people forgotten by their leaders, battered by gratuitous violence, corruption, and an indifference of their government.Therefore, we appeal to all the world's Anonymous, the entire global hacker community, putting aside our differences, ruthlessly attacking all government agencies in Mexico. Hack their webs, their email, their servers; Bring to light all the hidden information that demonstrates that Mexico is corrupt.We officially declare the war against corruption in Mexico.People of Mexico, you are not alone. Anonymous and the world is with you.
According to reports, the nebulous and notorious international Internet hacktivist collective know as Anonymous is credited with taking down 29 government websites in Mexico on Sunday, including the Ministry of Education, and, as mentioned above, the Michoacán Electoral Institute (EMI).
The recent actions demonstrates the power and potency of Anonymous in Latin America, and speaks to the strength and global nature of the Anonymous phenomenon.
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